PrusaSlicer for Printing OWLplane Models

PrusaSlicer for OWLplane Models

~ Slicer Profile Ready for LW-PLA Digital Balsa & Foam and New Jet PLA Models ~

User Guide for Slicing OWLplane Digital Balsa & Foam and New Jet PLA Models

Starting with the OWL F-16 Falcon model, we introduced not only the “Digital Balsa and Foam” model but also PrusaSlicer as our new approved slicer. We are very excited with the new version of PrusaSlicer where it can slice our single parameter STL format file model correctly. Unfortunately, we have to let go of the S3D due to not being able to slice with a gyroid pattern type of infill for a “Digital Balsa and Foam” model (exception is for S3D version 5 where we still need to evaluate before including into).

Starting with the OWL F-18 Super Hornet model, using the same PrusaSlicer, we introduce new PLA profiles. We believe the new PLA profiles will generate much stronger and better result for our belly landing models. That PLA profiles are also created to match with how our jet model designed. Feel free to translate the Profiles into other Slicers. To make things simpler, we will include also the 3MF PrusaSlicer files for our newer models. We utilize the same extrusion width which is 0.4mm and if you would like to change the settings using 0.3x mm extrusion width, feel free to do so.

So far, in our opinion, PrusaSlicer is easier to operate from user perspective and has many built in features that help so much when developing our models. Playing configuration with PrusaSlicer is also fun and very intuitive. With 3MF file format, it benefits our customer since the slicer settings are stored in the deliverable files. Opening the 3MF file means you will also get the setting values.

Feel free to download “Profile Files” and “OWL F-16 Falcon 64mm and 70mm EDF Sample Parts Files” below. The shared sample parts are :

FUSELAGE-5 # B2T2_GR1 (both for 64mm and 70mm EDFs).
WING-2-L # B2T2_GR1 (both for 64mm and 70mm EDFs).
VSTAB-BOTTOM # B2T2_GR1 (both for 64mm and 70mm EDFs).

Supported by OWLplane PrusaSlicer Profiles so far :

– OWL F-16 Falcon 64mm

– OWL F-16 Falcon 70mm

– Delta Hornet OWL v2

Installing PrusaSlicer

Starting with installing PrusaSlicer, the installation file can be found here “https://www.prusa3d.com/page/prusaslicer_424/” and please select the binary file as per your match Operating System (Windows, Mac or Linux).

Configuring PrusaSlicer for The 1st Time

Since it is the first time the PrusaSlicer installed, it needs to get a correct 3D printer setting. Click “Configuration Wizard…” and find your printer brand and model from the menu. Make sure that your 3D printers all are already uploaded / set in the slicer by checking from “Printer Settings” tab and window.

Installing OWLplane Config Bundle (Profile Set)

Now, it is time to run “Import Config Bundle…” to upload all OWLplane presets. If you do not upload our OWLplane presets, when uploading a 3MF PrusaSlicer project file, PrusaSlicer will create “Filament Settings” and “Printer Settings” with borrowing the project file name. To avoid confusion and also be ready for all OWLplane profile settings, please upload the config bundle before operating the slicer.

You can clear your preset settings by running “Configuration Wizard” as explained in the section below “Removing User Profile/OWLplane for Fresh Start”. After clearing, you can re-upload the user presets.

PrusaSlicer also provides the configuration snapshot of user presets. In that case, you can retrieve or play with the old presets later. You can find the feature under the “Configuration” main tab.

Select "Import Config Bundle" from "File" -> "Import" as shown in the picture below.
Select "OWLplane PrusaSlicer Config Bundle" file name from the provided file/profile directory.
Check if all presets have been successfully uploaded.
That is it ! You have uploaded all OWLplane profile files.

Select “Import Config Bundle” from “File” -> “Import” as shown in the picture below.

Select “OWLplane PrusaSlicer Config Bundle” file name from the provided file/profile directory.

Check if all presets have been successfully uploaded.

That is it ! You have uploaded all OWLplane profile files.(the total number may grow due to additional new config file)

Playing with PrusaSlicer 3MF Files (Project Files)

LW-PLA Filament

Let us play with the OWLplane project file (3MF) file. To clear the project, select “File” from the main tab and follow by selecting “New Project”. Try to find a PrusaSlicer 3MF file, for example, we try to upload “CANOPY-GLASS-1 and 2 # B2T2_GR1”. Select “File” again and follow by “Open Project”. Find “CANOPY-GLASS-1 and 2 # B2T2_GR1” under “OWL F-16 Falcon 64mm – STL, 3MF and G-code\5. CANOPY\3MF\LW-PLA” directory. Please pay attention to the last name “B2T2_GR1“.

Once opened, it should select the corresponding presets for “Print Settings”, “Filament Settings” and “Printer Settings”. You can select your own 3D printer brand and model from the “Printer Settings” tab. You are ready to slice the STL file.

Note : from the project file name, it does have “B2T2_GR1” reff. code. It should also pick the corresponding “Print Settings” last name reff. code which is “LW-PLA-OWLplane-Gyroid # B2T2_GR1“.

Reff. codes for LW-PLA are as follow for your reff:

LW-PLA (for both DD and BOWDEN) when naming STL files :

<…> # B2T2_GR1
<…> # B2T2_GR2
<…> # B3T3_GR3
<…> # B6T2_GR1
<…> # B6T2_GR2

Please avoid slicing directly STL files, since some settings information are stored under PrusaSlicer project file/3MF file. The yellow box below in the picture under “PLA Filament” section will not be there if slice it by importing directly from STL file.

PLA Filament for Jet Models (New Jet Models)

List of OWLplane Jet Model Profile Names printed with PLA :

The following is profile reff. codes for PLA with DD setup :
PLA-OWLplane # PERI1_B3T3
PLA-OWLplane # PERI1_B6T3
PLA-OWLplane # PERI2_B3T3

PLA Filament for Non Jet Models (Old Models)

Let us play with the OWLplane project file (3MF) file. To clear the project, select “File” from the main tab and follow by selecting “New Project”. Try to find a PrusaSlicer 3MF file, for example, we try to upload “CANOPY-GLASS-1 and 2 # P3_H15 – DD”. Select “File” again and follow by “Open Project”. Find “CANOPY-GLASS-1 and 2 # P3_H15 – DD” under “OWL F-16 Falcon 64mm – STL, 3MF and G-code\5. CANOPY\3MF\PLA” directory. Please pay attention to the last name “P3_H15 – DD“.

Once opened, it should select the corresponding presets for “Print Settings”, “Filament Settings” and “Printer Settings”. Now, you can select your own 3D printer brand and model from the “Printer Settings” tab. Now, you can start slicing the STL file.

Note : from the project file name, it does have “P3_H15” reff. code (just ignore -DD, to mark, it should use Direct Drive setup 3D printer). It should also pick the corresponding “Print Settings” last name reff. code which is “PLA-OWLplane-Gyroid # P3_H15“.

Reff. codes for PLA are as follow for your reff.

The following is reff. code for PLA with DD setup when naming STL files :
<…> # GR2
<…> # GR3
<…> # GR4
<…> # P3_H15
The following is reff. code for PLA with Bowden setup when naming STL files :
<…> # GR2
<…> # GR3
<…> # GR4
<…> # P3_H15

Note :
Since PrusaSlicer modifier is attached to the model part itself, some old setting profiles are not yet implemented in PrusaSlicer profile but feel free to translate old profiles into PrusaSlice profiles.
select <…> # <reff. code> + Support if you need to automatically generate support.

Please avoid slicing directly STL files, since some settings information are stored under PrusaSlicer project file/3MF file. The yellow box below in the picture will not be there if slice it by importing directly from STL file.

Slicing for Your Own 3D Printer Machine

After you have set up your own 3D printer brand and model, you can find your 3D printer preset by selecting it from “Printer Settings” located in the main tabs. Just re-run/run the slicing process right after.

Playing with STL Files

Uploading and Generating G-code Files

If you would like to slice STL file instead of from PrusaSlicer 3MF project file, what you need to do is just select the correct user presets. Uploading STL files as shown in the picture below. Before slicing it, make sure you have selected the correct “Print Settings”, “Filament Settings” and “Printer Settings” value. What values are used, the easy way to learn it is by playing or uploading OWLplane 3MF project files first.

Rule for “Print Settings“, should match last names for both STL last name (the reff. code) and also Config last name (the reff. code).

Rule for “Filament Settings” as follow :

“OWLplane LW-PLA” for printing with LW-PLA filament (note: both are the same for Direct Drive and Bowden setup 3D printer).
“OWLplane PLA with Direct Drive” for printing with PLA and Direct Drive setup 3D printer.
“OWLplane PLA with Bowden” for printing with PLA and Bowden setup 3D printer.

Please do not slice directly from STL files unless you do know all the settings that you would like to change/update, since some settings information are stored under PrusaSlicer project file/3MF file.

Setting with Your Own 3D Printer

After configuring PrusaSlicer with your own 3D printers, they should appear under the Printer Settings tab as shown in the following picture. Once you have selected the printer name, you are good to go for slicing.

Removing User Profile /OWLplane for Fresh Start

Do the following, if you would like to update your user presets with a new PrusaSlicer config bundle file. For example, the new version of OWLplane profile files are introduced, just clear existing and upload the new one (you may want to export current user presets for your backup by clicking “File”->”Export”->”Export Config Bundle…”.).

Print Your Plane As Many As You Like